Botswana/Namibia trip

[Donkey]

Hi

Loaded a route of our trip onto the Garmin Nuvi 50 that we're doing through Botswana and Namibia, but battling to find it on the unit, does anyone know how to do this?

Secondly are there any campsites worth visiting in both countries (if possible with co-ordinates)? In Namibia will be doing the Rundu, Oshikango, Ruacana, Swartbooisdrif, Okangwati, Puros, Sesfontein, Warm Quelle, Kamanjab, Outjo, Otjiwarongo, Okakarara and Gobabis route.

Also towns where we're most likely to find fuel.

Any help will be appreciated.

[Haboob]

Hi Thumelo, who you going with? you not doing van Zyl's & Marienfluss? If you are then you will need fuel for about 1 000 km's normal driving from Ruacana to Sesfontein or Palmwag if there is no fuel at Sesfontein. Puros River bed back towards the sea (south-west) then east to the next river & then north east back to Sesfontein also very scenic

In Namibia will be doing the Rundu(Fuel), Oshikango, Ruacana(Fuel), Swartbooisdrif, Okangwati,(Fuel in drums...sometimes) Puros, Sesfontein(Fuel...not reliable), Warm Quelle, Kamanjab(Fuel), Outjo(Fuel), Otjiwarongo(Fuel), Okakarara and Gobabis route.

Camping Rundu, Ruacana, Swartbooisdrif, Epupa Falls(must visit...continue along river from Swartbooisdrif), Okangwati, Puros, Sesfontein, Warm Quelle, (also Kwaharib Schlutte...just a bit further from Warm Quella), Kamanjab (nice camp site north-west of town), Palmwag at the veternary point, Abba Huab a couple of kilo's down the drag near Verbrande Berge, Orrel Pype & Bushman paintings) Outjo, Then there is also the Pedestal near Korixas(scuse spelling...can't remember all the place names)

[Donkey]

Thanks Edge, going my cousin Tau (Sebata on the forum), Oooms and his family and a friend of his. Just got some co-ordinates also from Mark

[Agteros]

Hi Tumelo - looking forward to your trip report and pics!

[Donkey]

Cool

[zepplin]

DON'T miss Ngepi campsite just downstream from Popa rapids in the Caprivi.

[Haboob]

Enjoy your trip Tumelo...I met Tau with you that time when you brought the rims down to Hoggsback

[Donkey]

Had a lovely trip indeed and a real eye opener, just waiting for Tau to upload our trip report and I'll add on the pics

[Mud Dog]

Great! ......... or does this mean that we will only see the pics this time next year??

[Donkey]

Witty so early in the morning and in the year?

[Thunder02]

Waiting in anticipation,how did the vehicle go?

[Donkey]

Went well thanks Neil. At times the temp gauge would rise just a notch but never really much, not sure if the heat is the only factor here, but yes it was very hot! At no point did we loose coolant though.

Used also about 6 ltrs of oil, not sure if this is normal for a newly overhauled engine. But other than that only small thing was a puncture, which could be repaired on the sopt anyways.

Just did the trip report on Skytrax and it works aout to 4985 km in total

[4x4Maniac]

Tumelo, this is not normal, how much oil was it using before the overhaul? And where is the oil coming out? Sweat through the head is normal, but should be negligible. The motor takes 7.1l from empty. I'd take it back to the guy that did the overhaul. It's not nice spending so much money and the one's pride and joy is not functioning optimally. M1cw

[Donkey]

Can't say how much it used before since I never went that far in such a short time. There are no visible oil leaks, nothing. Was even suspecting wrong viscosity

[4x4Maniac]

Weird then rather take it back.

[Donkey]

Still awaiting complete trip report from Sebata but I guess while waiting I can plot this log as per my Skytrax unit.

15 Dec - N14 towards Ventersdorp, then Burgersdorp (Lichtenburg)
N4 Zeerust up until Mafikeng.

16 Dec - Mafikeng to N4 towards border then into Botswana on the Trans-Kgalagadi Highway A2 to Kang

17 Dec - A2 Kang to Ghanzi, A3 Ghanzi

18 Dec - A3 Ghanzi to Maun, then Massubia then Skegau

19 Dec - Skegau to Sepupa towards Muhembo border into Namibia
C48 from Kwaviyi, then Mukwe, Popa then Divundu

20 Dec - B8 from Divundu towards Rundu

23 Dec - Rundu on B8 towards Otjozondjupa

24 Dec - B8 Grootfontein, then Otjiwarongo (B1)
B1 to C38 towards Outjo

26 Dec - Outjo to C39 Khorixas, until Springbokwater Gate. From the gate C34 to Torra Bay

27 Dec - C34 from Torra towards Hentiesbaai, then B2 from Karibib to B1 towards Windhoek. B1 past Mariental towards Keetmanshoop.

28 Dec - Keetmanshoop towards B3 Ariamvlei
Cross border from Cillie (Northen Cape) to Upington
N10 from Upington to Swartmodder, N14 towards Vryburg then back home via Ventersdorp.

Between 27th and 28th we did 2 359km in about 30 hours, taking turns behind the wheel because The Lion was home sick, while the other one slept the other drove - stopping regularly to stretch, get fresh air and refill fuel

All in all 4 985 km

[Thunder02]

Looked like a great trip,i would be worried about the oil usage,if there are no signs of an oil leak then you are burning it up in the motor past the piston rings,i would take it back and have it checked.Maybe have it compression tested.Hope not to serious.

[4x4Maniac]

Tumelo, did you guys enter Bots via the N18 from Mafikeng, or via the N4 from Zeerust/Dinokana

[Donkey]

@ Niel - like I said no visible leakage, but as you say I'll take it in,

@ Werner - we entered through Zeerust, just wish my partner in crime to post report soon

[thirstytraveller]

Hey Thumelo - we just did a similar trip and in 6600km the 2.7i didnt use a drop of oil! but a LOAD of fuel!! I was getting 5km/l!!!! I am also working on a trip report which will be up ina few days, but here is the route we did and places we stayed:
Day 1: Friday 7th December : JHB – Maun 1148km
Via Parrs Halt border
Set up Camp at Audi
Day 2: Saturday 8th December: Maun
Audi Camp
Day 3: Sunday 9th December: Maun – (Moremi)
Audi Camp
Day 4: Monday 10th December: Maun (Kayaking)
Audi Camp
Day 5: Tuesday 11th December: Maun – Shakawe – Popa Falls 434km (30km gravel)
Border at Shakawe
Popa Falls Camp
Day 6: Wednesday 12th December: Popa Falls - Etosha 627km
Namutoni Camp
Day 7: Thursday 13th December: Naumtimo - Okaukeujo Etosha 133km (gravel)
Okaukeujo Camp in park at Anderson Gate
Day 8: Friday 14th December: Etosha
Okaukeujo Camp in park at Anderson Gate
Day 9: Saturday 15th December: Outjo/Khorixas/Markey/Brandberg 353km (150km gravel)
Brandberg Rest Camp
Day 10: Sunday 16th December: Brandberg – Swakopmund 194km (80km gravel)
Alte Brucke Camp Site
Day 11: Monday 17th December: Swakopmund
Alte Brucke Camp Site
Day 12: Tuesday 18th December: Swakopmund
Alte Brucke Camp Site
Day 13: Wednesday 19th December: Swakopmund
Alte Brucke Camp Site
Day 14: Thursday 20th December: Swakopmund – Sesriem 347km (317km gravel)
Sesriem Camp
Day 15: Friday 21st December: Sesriem
Sesriem Camp
Day 16: Saturday 22nd December: Sesriem - Aus 346km (gravel)
Klein-Aus Vista
Day 17: Sunday 23rd December: Aus (Luderitz) 242km
Klein-Aus Vista.
Day 18: Monday 24th December: Aus – Hobas 282km (109km gravel)
Hoba’s Camp Site
Day 19: Tuesday 25th December: Hobas
Hoba’s Camp Site
Day 20: Wednesday 26th December: Hoba’s – Augrabies 387km (gravel)
Via Onseepkans
Augrabies National Park
Day 21: Thursday 27th December: Augrabies Kayaking
Augrabies National Park
Day 22: Friday 28th December: Kayaking
Augrabies National Park
Day 23: Saturday 29th December: Augrabies - JHB 925km

[Donkey]

Lessons learnt on this trip:

Namibia turns into GP-land over holidays and what I loved about it is most, if not all, are/were seeking peace outside Gauteng or elswhere in RSA.

Law enforcement is visible, effecient and to me was never rude, contrary to our side of the world.

Also observed a pro-active approach style of living compared to here at home when things are dealt with at break-point or as a reaction.

My best is, the so called "rich" don't go in the bush with their fancy 4x4's and would rather be elsewhere close to city pavements scratching each other for mall parking spaces and shopping trolleys - this is been the best holiday I have yet affored myself

[Thunder02]

Glad you had a great trip,trip report please,now been promised two,good reading coming up

[4x4Maniac]

In the Jungle the mighty jungle the Lion sleep tonight, yesterday and the day before that...

[Thunder02]

In the Jungle the mighty jungle the Lion sleep tonight, yesterday and the day before that...

[Sebata]

you guys are having fun be? , only today the bosses are returning to work,

[Mud Dog]

Ahh! The lion is awake!

[Sebata]

about time

[4x4Maniac]

about time

Great TR, so where's the pics :evil:

[Sebata]

halllo papa, check on the TR for some of the pics i took

[4x4Maniac]

I saw it thx, here is the link to that post.

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[Sebata]

I saw it thx, here is the link to that post.

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